Sleep Tight: Help Mom Relax with Natural and Homemade Gifts

If there’s one common denominator between New Jammies moms, it’s that they probably would love a little rest and relaxation on Mother’s Day. Since the second Sunday of every year is dedicated to Mom, we thought it would be nice to compile our favorite ways to help her get what she deserves, and most likely desires, on her big day.

• There’s nothing more soothing and all-natural than a good, old-fashioned foot rub. Foot rubs can be done organically at home or by the skilled professionals who provide massages or pedicures for a living. There are many homemade foot soaks on the web, and this fruity concoction found on Pinterest could be a fun option for treating Mom at home:

Strawberry Foot Scrub
This easy scrub helps revive and soften feet.

Ingredients
8 strawberries
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoons kosher salt

Directions
Mix ingredients into a paste. Massage well into feet, then rinse and dry.

• Make your own homemade whipped massage oil with coconut oil and essential oils of your choice (available online and at health food stores), including peppermint or wintergreen for a rejuvenating tingle, lavender or chamomile for relaxation and lemongrass for aches and pains.

Whipped Massage Oil
These make great gifts for Mother’s Day, birthdays and holidays, and can be personalized with homemade paper labels and adorned with ribbon or flowers.

Ingredients
1/2 cup virgin coconut oil, at room temperature
30 drops of essential oil of your choice

Directions
Measure oil and place in mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, whip the coconut oil for 30 seconds. Add drops of essential oil and whip another 30 seconds. Using a spatula, transfer the whipped oil into a clean container with a lid such as a mason jar.

Note: Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and begins to melt at about 76°F. If whipped oil begins to melt, refrigerate for a few minutes, then whip again if needed.

• Not only does it feel great to have muscled and tendons softened, but many foot rubs and massages have the added benefit of aromatherapy since lubricants used can include aromatic essential oils. In its “8 Natural Remedies That May Help You Sleep” article, Health Magazine features aromatherapy as #5. “Lavender is the trick here, as studies have proven that it aids in sleep. It’s also a cheap, nontoxic way to slip into a peaceful slumber. Find a spray with real lavender and spritz it on your pillow before bedtime. Or buy a lavender-filled pillow.”

Bath and Body Works offers a line of Spa & Skin aromatherapy products dedicated to sleep with soothing and relaxing items including body cream, pillow mist, bath soak, and sugar scrub. Visit a location — find a store here — or purchase the Bath & Body Works Sleep online here.

• A nice, peaceful organic meal that can be easily prepared, even with the help of kids, is an all-natural way to help Mom relax on Mother’s Day. This simple, slow-roasted garlic lemon chicken recipe from the Deliciously Organic website can be baked in a few hours and is as aromatic as it is delicious.

Slow-Roasted Garlic and Lemon Chicken
Serving Size: Serves 4
Recipe from “Forever Summer” by Nigella Lawson, also a great Mother’s Day gift available on Amazon

Ingredients
1 3-4 pound chicken, butterflied
1 head garlic, separated into unpeeled cloves
2 organic lemons, cut into eighths
5 sprigs fresh thyme
3 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper
1/2 cup white wine (you can substitute with chicken stock)

Directions
Preheat oven to 300°F and adjust oven to middle position. Place chicken skin-side up in a large roasting pan and arrange garlic cloves and lemon around the chicken. Pull the leaves off of 3 sprigs of thyme and sprinkle over chicken, garlic and lemon. Pour the oil over the chicken and using your hands, rub the oil onto the skin of the chicken. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Pour white wine in pan, around the chicken. Place a piece of parchment paper over the pan and then cover tightly with foil. Place in the oven and cook for 2 hours. Remove the foil and parchment paper from the pan, and turn up the oven to 400°F. Cook the uncovered chicken for an additional 30-45 minutes, until skin is golden brown and breast registers 170°F on a thermometer. Remove chicken from oven and let rest for 20 minutes before serving.

Pair with cooked carrots or green beans and finish with angel food cake topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream (pre-made is fine!).